Syrian authorities have repeatedly alleged that weapons have been smuggled to rebel groups via Lebanon, whose coalition government is largely supportive of the Syrian regime.

Meanwhile, 10 rebel fighters are among 32 people killed in Syria since yesterday, according to reports from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

They say 22 civilians also died - eight in flashpoint central Hama, two in nearby Homs, three in Idlib near the Turkish border, four in Aleppo, four in Damascus province and one in Al-Raqqah in the north-east.

Separately, the official SANA news agency reported three soldiers and two "terrorists" killed in Syria's second-biggest city Aleppo in clashes between troops and "armed terrorist groups."

An activist said the fighting began as "officers and soldiers of a military base near the presidential palace... deserted with their weapons."

The latest violence comes as Norwegian General Robert Mood arrives in Damascus to take charge of the UN observer mission.

He is urging all sides to "stop the violence" and respect a more than two-week-old ceasefire that has been repeatedly violated.